If there is anything you can count on when George Miller makes a movie, it would be that whatever project he is tackling will subvert expectations in any number of ways. The likelihood of this skyrockets when he makes a sequel, as he usually breaks away from the conventions that were established in the previous film. This is especially noticeable with Babe: Pig in the City, which takes a darker, more disorienting approach compared to its more cheerful and straightforward predecessor. Both of Miller's Happy Feet films fall into this category as well, as the second film is much more scattered and has a different tone from the original. But of course, the prime example of this phenomenon is found in Miller's Mad Max series. While each film in the franchise does feel connected through the dystopian landscapes and grittiness they share, Miller definitely makes each film feel like its own thing. From the more confined, B-movie feel of the 1979 original, to the massive, high-octane blockbuster that is Fury Road, the evolution of Mad Max is one of the more intriguing progressions of any film series I've ever seen. The episodic nature of the franchise helps this, as each film functions as a brand new adventure for its title character.
But with the franchise's newest installment, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, we see Miller shift the focus to a completely different character as our protagonist, and make the most direct continuation to any of the other films in the series thus far. It is a prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road, showing the origin story of the character of Furiosa (previously played by Charlize Theron). On top of that, the film retains a lot of the visual style and flair of Fury Road, so this film certainly has more connective tissue to any other entry in the franchise compared to the other films. That said, the film isn't quite the adrenaline pumping spectacular that Fury Road was, and instead fords its own path within its universe. It does have Miller's distinct visual style, and jaw-dropping chase scenes, but it is slower and more drawn out, focusing more on Furiosa's journey and expanding on the lore of the series. This leads to the film having its own identity, much like the each of the previous films in the franchise, while still being an absolute thrill-ride and one of the most visually and technically impressive films of the past decade.
Years before the events of Fury Road, Furiosa (Anya Taylor-Joy, Alyla Browne as younger Furiosa) is kidnapped from her home in the Green Place, one of the last places with clean water and farm land in Australia. She is taken deep into the deserts of the Wasteland, where she is put into the care of the evil warlord Dementus (Chris Hemsworth). They come upon the Citadel, ruled by Immortan Joe (Lachy Hulme) and a battle for power begins between him and Dementus. In the midst of this, Furiosa fights for survival, and goes to great lengths to try and return to her home.
Considering that the past four Mad Max films centered solely on Max, it is refreshing to see this film shift to a different character, and offer up new stories within the world of the series. Choosing Furiosa as the one to focus on is a no-brainer given that she was the breakout character from Fury Road and has one of the more compelling backstories of any character in the franchise. The one area that gave me a bit of pause going into this film would be that Charlize Theron would not be reprising the role. It makes sense given that it is a prequel, but Theron is so excellent as Furiosa that it leaves the actor stepping into the role with some big shoes to fill. This film delivers a one-two punch of featuring Alyla Browne as Furiosa as a child and teen, and Anya Taylor-Joy as a young adult version of the character. Both are fantastic, and nail the evolving nature of the character. Browne is especially impressive, as she has few lines, but physicalizes the role so well. It's a strong feat for a young actor, and it blew me away. Taylor-Joy carries most of the film, however, and is extraordinary through and through. She beautifully bridges the gap between Browne's version of the character and Theron's version, and has some of the most captivating moments of the entire film. Her sheer presence is incredible, and it ranks as some of her best work in my book.
Taylor-Joy internalizes the drive and determination of Furiosa so well, and captures her fearless energy perfectly. It helps that Miller and co-writer Nico Lathouris have created a rich origin story for the character that is powerful and bewitching. Some of the details were dispensed in Fury Road, but this film expands on them and fully shows Furiosa's journey from child to Imperator. The film does take its time unspooling everything, which might throw off viewers expecting this to be as fast-paced and action-packed as Fury Road. I personally appreciated that the film takes its time and really lets specific plot points sink in. It does lead the film to sag a bit in the second act, but the rest of the film is so engaging and fascinating that it makes up for it. The film has its fair share of car chases and explosions, but the film feels more like a western in some ways, mainly due to how it tells its story, and Furiosa's desire for vengeance. It is a bold direction for the film to take, but one that feels perfect for the story being told here.
The rest of the cast is rounded out by some heavy-hitters, each playing a character that gives the film such a distinct personality. Lachy Hulme does a great job of playing a younger version of Immortan Joe, the main villain from Fury Road. He is so convincing that there were moments that I forgot he wasn't Hugh Keays-Byrne, who previously played him. Tom Burke takes on somewhat of the mentor role of the film as Praetorian Jack, a commander that takes Furiosa under his wing. Burke has a steely intensity that fits the role like a glove, and his work here makes the case for him being an action hero. In a similar category, Charlee Fraser is phenomenal as Mary Jabassa, Furiosa's mother. Fraser has such a strong presence and is such a major figure in the first section of the film. She portrays so much on her face in certain moments, while also looking extremely cool in the action scenes she's in. This is only her second film role, but I wouldn't be surprised if we see much more of her in the future based on her work in this film.
Perhaps the biggest standout outside of Taylor-Joy would be Chris Hemsworth, who goes all-in on the evil and charismatic Dementus. Hemsworth has been stuck in Marvel movies for a while, so it is great to see him take on a new character that stretches him as an actor. Hemsworth relishes in the character's bombastic qualities, yet there is an underlying danger to him that he deploys so well. Dementus is a villain, but Hemsworth adds so much personality to offset the darker implications of the character that it is hard not to be drawn in by him. It is a pretty difficult needle to thread, but Hemsworth absolutely pulls it off. It may be my favorite performance of his to date, and shows that he is capable of a lot more than just being Thor.
It should come as no surprise that the cinematography and action sequences are next level. These were two of the biggest highlights of Fury Road and they're two of the biggest highlights here as well. The film is shot beautifully, capturing the the deserts and dystopian fortresses so effectively. It has Miller's tendency to craft images that look somewhat uncanny, but work seamlessly in the context of the film. Nobody makes films that look like a George Miller film, and this is no exception. The costuming is also excellent, with eye-catching details and the unique use of various fabrics and colors. It gives so much to the look of the film, and really stood out to me. The action sequences are what will likely stick with most, as they are some of the best in recent memory. There is an extended car chase sequence near the middle of the film that is up there with some of the best work Miller has done in his whole career, and had me on the edge of my seat. So much of what Miller and company are doing in this film shouldn't work, but it is so spectacular, and unlike anything I've seen since Fury Road.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga might not be as hard-hitting or as much of a non-stop action spectacular as Fury Road was, but that doesn't mean it isn't incredible in its own way. It delivers on the explosive and thrilling setpieces that most people are expecting from a Mad Max movie, but also dives into the origins of the character of Furiosa. It is a great prequel to Fury Road while also acting as a compelling journey for its protagonist. There is truly not a filmmaker out there like George Miller, and I applaud him for never taking the more conventional route with any of his films. Those expecting this to just be a rehash of Fury Road will likely be disappointed, but those who are fans of the series and Miller's work will undoubtedly be captivated by it.
Rating: 4.5/5
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